SAN FRANCISCO BOARD OF EDUCATION VOTES TO SUPPORT SUGARY BEVERAGE TAX PROPOSED BY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

Proposal by San Francisco Supervisors Mar, Wiener, Cohen and Avalos will put a sugar-sweetened beverage tax on the ballot to fund nutrition, health, and physical activity programs

San Francisco, CA – Today the San Francisco Board of Education passed a resolution in support of the sugary beverage tax proposed by members of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. This resolution – which was authored by Board of Education Commissioners Rachel Norton, Matt Haney, and Jill Wynns—gives the full endorsement of the San Francisco Unified School District to a two cent per ounce sugary beverage tax to be placed on the ballot as proposed by Supervisors Scott Wiener, Eric Mar, Malia Cohen and John Avalos.

“We are excited and proud to have the support of the San Francisco Board of Education,” the Supervisors said in a joint statement. “The Commissioners represent those most impacted by the consumption of sugary beverages—our children. By giving their endorsement to a tax on sugary beverages, the Board of Education joins a broad coalition of public health advocates, community leaders, parents, and San Francisco residents who recognize the negative health effects these beverages are having on our collective city health and the value of a tax on sugary beverages to lower consumption and fund programs to improve our health.”

“I’m thrilled to be able to put this important health policy issue on the school district’s radar,” said School Board Commissioner Rachel Norton. “Consumption of sugary beverages has been found to be very destructive to the health of children, and children who have serious health issues like diabetes or obesity are at an academic, social and physical disadvantage. The San Francisco Unified School District is charged with educating children and preparing them for successful, productive lives, and protecting their health is undoubtedly a part of that.”

The tax is estimated to generate up to $31 million annually and to significantly reduce consumption of sugary beverages. The Supervisors will be introducing a final, unified measure at the Board of Supervisors in the coming weeks. Proceeds of the tax will be legally dedicated to funding physical activity and nutrition programs in San Francisco public schools (e.g., school lunch, physical education, and after-school programs), active recreation programs in San Francisco parks, food access, outreach and chronic disease prevention programs in the Department of Public Health, and grants to community-based organizations providing health, nutrition, and physical activity programs.

Under the terms of the legislation, disadvantaged/low-income communities, including those most impacted by the diabetes and obesity epidemics, will be prioritized in funding decisions. The tax is proposed for the November 2014 election for consideration by the voters. Because the tax proceeds will be legally restricted to nutrition, health, and physical activity programs, it will require a 2/3 affirmative vote. The measure is structured to require that funding be in addition to current funding levels and not utilized as replacement funding for existing programs.